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[borderbasser]

Fishing has been tough this summer and most of the fish appear to be in deep water. I'm a florida resident and don't fish deep water, more than 10 feet deep, that often and I don't carolina rig very well.... So what are some other deep water techniques that I could employ to catch fish in 14-19 feet of water, near brush piles, and bottom devoid of grass on a consistent basis???
thanx for any pointers.

[whitetailfrazier]

You can use a football head jig to drag the bottom just like a c-rig, or use a big heavy spinnerbait slow rolled, or deep diving crank, but my absolute favorite is a zoom mag 11 texas rigged.  I have even had good luck with a shaky head rigged with a zoom speed craw.  The main thing to do is stay in contact with cover. whenever you get scared you are about to lose your lure, you are actually about to catch a fish.

[Bassinkorea]

I would say a crankbait like a DD22 and also a drop shot rig. I am like you also borderbasser, I am not very confident with a c-rig.

[fishinfranklin]

I fish the c-rig most of the time, Biggest mistake i see people make when fishing it is settin the hook to soon, i fish it in grass , deep in brush piles and on ledges, I have even been using a drop shot on baitcasters in grass and in brush piles with 14lb line, DD22 are also one of my fav. to throw around the brush piles, with my c-rig fishing brush piles i throw it right in the middle of the pile like whitetailfrazier said main thing is stay in contact with cover and fish it slow really slow,lots of times i cast it in the middle and just let it sit there about 5 mintues and lots of the time when i picked it up i feel the weight of the fish on it and set the hook then, most of the time when fishing a c-rig you have lots of line deep in the water thats slack that you cant see due to it being down so deep but you still feel the bite and most try it set the hook on the bite before they reel up a little and feel the weight of the fish and they just pull on the slack line. When started fishing Eufaula i fished with giude(Billy Darby)a good many times and he showed me the C-rig and how to fish it.And i have been hooked on it since!!

[Baron49]

If you are not confident with a Carolina Rig you might want to try using a lighter version until you get used to it.  For example using your normal worm rig put a bobber stopper on the line below the worm weight and move it up the line about 12 to 15 inches.  Fish this either the same way you fish a worm or try dragging the worm weight by pulling the line sideways with your rod.  After a while you will get used to the feeling of what the weight is doing and what a strike feels like.  Normally the line just feels heavy like a weed is on the line, but sometime you can feel a little bump.  Over time and experimentation you can go lighter or heavier with the entire rig.

My personal favorite Carolina rig is the Petey Rig.  Long 7'3'' MH rod, 12 pound test line, light 1/8 to 1/4 tungsten weights, fast retrieve reel, and using a fluke, baby brush hog, or beaver as the bait.  You want to fish the weight and not the bait.  Pay attention to what the weight is doing and the bait will float up and drop down as well as move around on its own.

[-Steve-]

DD22 or DT16. I don't c-rig or drop-shot well so the other choice would be a BIG worm on a t-rig...Steve

[basshookey]

I say tough it out and learn the c-rig! I have caught more fish using that method than anything in deeper water. All of the advice above is good........especially "fishing the weight" and not the bait. I actually love fishing c-rig since you really get to find out whats on the bottom. Invest in a good quality graphite rod decent baitcaster for starters. I like to fish my C-rig heavy! This way I get to feel everything on the bottom and know what structure I am fishing. The strikes for me are usually bump-bump..........pause.........bang! Then you set the hook...........it takes a little getting use to but one fish on that rig and your minds changed!

[runthru402]

You can use a football head jig to drag the bottom just like a c-rig, or use a big heavy spinnerbait slow rolled, or deep diving crank, but my absolute favorite is a zoom mag 11 texas rigged.  I have even had good luck with a shaky head rigged with a zoom speed craw.  The main thing to do is stay in contact with cover. whenever you get scared you are about to lose your lure, you are actually about to catch a fish.

I'm am definately going to have to concur with this advice.

[screwballl]

I prefer weedless jig and texas rig senko

[Hoop Goobner]

I absolutely love c-rigging.  I have tons of confidence with it.  I'll throw it anywhere, except where there's thick, slimy (snotty) weeds.  Deep stumps on a point is a c-rigging heaven.  I've caught bass as deep as 19' on the c-rig.  All it takes is to catch one fish, then you'll "get it".  Most of my bites are bump bumps.  Then you'll feel the fish swimming with it.  Sweep your rod to the side and its game on.  On more than one occasion I've had bass that skipped the bump bump part and just went ahead and tried to rip the rod out of my hand.  But that's not the norm.  Usually, you'll get a couple tappity taps, and what you do from that point on will determine whether or not you get that fish.  After the tap tap (or bump-bump), if you don't feel the fish swimming with your bait, let it sit.  When you can't take it any more, just give it a jiggle.  Don't move it away, just jiggle it.  Often times, this is when they'll take it for good.  Most importantly, set the hook immediately once you feel the fish swimming with it (aka a heavy or dead feeling) or you'll risk them dropping it.

Make sure you get a good rod.  I used to fish the c-rig with a 30 dollar rod.  I got a 7' St. Croix M/H for Christmas several years ago, and now I can literally feel the bass fart if they're even close to my bait.  It makes all the difference in the world. 

BTW, a football head jig would be a good alternative to the c-rig. 

[netmansc]

I wouldnt get in the boat without.  Heck there are times that I have two tied on just in case I break a leader and dont have time to take the time to retie.  There has been a pile of money won over the years off a  c-rig and alot of good fish caught.  It has gotten me in the money twice since January.

[devilmutt]

I like to fish the C-Rig in heavy weeds with a long leader and a Riverside Air Worm.  Only problem is I don't have many Air Worms left and I can't find them anywhere.

[NateG]

If you are not confident with a Carolina Rig you might want to try using a lighter version until you get used to it.  For example using your normal worm rig put a bobber stopper on the line below the worm weight and move it up the line about 12 to 15 inches.  Fish this either the same way you fish a worm or try dragging the worm weight by pulling the line sideways with your rod.  After a while you will get used to the feeling of what the weight is doing and what a strike feels like.  Normally the line just feels heavy like a weed is on the line, but sometime you can feel a little bump.  Over time and experimentation you can go lighter or heavier with the entire rig.

My personal favorite Carolina rig is the Petey Rig.  Long 7'3'' MH rod, 12 pound test line, light 1/8 to 1/4 tungsten weights, fast retrieve reel, and using a fluke, baby brush hog, or beaver as the bait.  You want to fish the weight and not the bait.  Pay attention to what the weight is doing and the bait will float up and drop down as well as move around on its own.

I really like the Petey Rig in super clear lakes with a 3/16 oz. sinker and a cut tail worm. 

[SlingandWind]

IME the clearer the water, the longer the leader needs to be. I fish with 7-8 ft leaders in our gin clear waters

[Hoop Goobner]

Wow!  How's that for casting?  I'd have my Dad hooked in the back of the head everytime with that leader length!

On a serious note... do you feel that you get bit better than with a "standard" length leader?  What's the thought process behind that length?  Sinkers spooking fish?  Or because your bait gets much more of a natural, free fall on the initial cast after the sinker lands?
 

[hawghustler35]

I too dont do much C riggin.  But, I catch alot of fish with a football jig draggin bottom and shakeyhead rig.  I also do well with DD22s.

[DeliReb]

Two things not mentioned would be spend the extra money and get tungsten weights!!!  You can feel the bottom so much better!!!   Also, the Falcon Low Rider Carolina Dragger is awesome!!

Jigs are #1 for me but the C-rig is catching up....  I do believe I catch more fish with a C-rig but the quality is still got to be a jig!!!

[screwballl]

Since there is so much grass on the bottom of the local lakes, C-rigs just don't seem to work well here. A weightless or lightly weighted senko run along or just above the grass has worked much better for me.

[jhow2319]

Would it be better to fish a carolina on a 7'6" Heavy with fast action Flippin stick or a 6'10" MH with fast action texas rig rod?

[Hoop Goobner]

I'd go with the MH rod. 

[devilmutt]

I use a 7' med action rod for the C-Rig.

[netmansc]

For me the rod depends on the weight I am fishing if I am fishing deeper I will use a 7'0 H AllStar with a 1/2 or bigger weight.  If it calls for a little lighter weight in skinnier water i back up to a 7'0 MH Vendetta.  Just what seems to work for me.